Even as cricket continues to enjoy widespread popularity across India through tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), residents of Nuagarh village in Odisha‘s Paradip continue to associate the sport with one of the darkest chapters in the village’s history.

For the past 22 years, cricket has effectively remained prohibited in the village following a boat accident in 2004 that claimed the lives of 13 young men. The tragedy occurred when a group of youths was travelling across the Mahanadi river to participate in a cricket match.

Residents say the incident left a deep impact on the community, and since then, cricket was not played in the village.

Survivors Recall The Incident

Recounting the events of March 1, 2004, a local resident said, “Our cricketers used to travel to the other side of the Mahanadi river to play. We generally crossed the river by boat. On that day, the boat was probably unable to bear the load, following which several people drowned.”

Another resident, who was present on the boat, recalled the moments before the accident.

“We had never imagined that such an incident could occur. I was on the boat when we suddenly heard a noise. One of the elders present asked us to check what had happened. We then noticed water entering the boat from both ends. Nearly 30 persons were on board when the incident occured,” he said.

Lasting Impact On Community

The survivor further said, “Panic spread among everyone. The boatman jumped into the river and swam away. Many passengers jumped into the water and tried to stay afloat by holding on to the edge of the boat. Unfortunately, many people lost their lives that day.”

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More than two decades later, the memory of the accident continues to shape the village’s relationship with the sport. While cricket remains one of the country’s most followed games, residents of Nuagarh continue to remember it through the lens of the 2004 tragedy that altered the village forever.